{"id":703,"date":"2012-08-12T08:32:41","date_gmt":"2012-08-12T12:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=703"},"modified":"2012-08-12T08:34:16","modified_gmt":"2012-08-12T12:34:16","slug":"stepping-on-the-truth-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=703","title":{"rendered":"stepping on the truth box"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Note: \u00a0Today is day 5 of 10 in our annual Guest Blogger Series. \u00a0Please remember: \u00a0the Intramuralist may or may not agree with the opinion(s) expressed. \u00a0The goal is respectful articulation.]<\/em><\/p>\n

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I want the truth. But \u2026 do I \u2026 really? Sometimes I feel just like the recipient of the infamous line from A Few Good Men, who was told, \u201cYou can\u2019t handle the truth!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Hearing hard things makes me wilt a bit inside, even when I purposely place myself in a setting where everyone is encouraged to speak the truth. Over five years ago I joined a group of five women who meet every other week to share life stories, encourage one another, and challenge certain bad habit patterns and distorted thinking.<\/p>\n

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I like to call our time together \u201cstepping on the Truth Box.\u201d But we really call it PDP, which stands for Personal Development Plan. The group was formed to teach some assessment tools for life coaching, but as we began to share life stories and get motivating, growth-oriented feedback, our meetings became like dope. By the time the reminder for our next gathering pops up on my calendar, I\u2019m usually emotionally dragging a bit, in need of my PDP fix.<\/p>\n

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Someone always cries. Last time it was me. I was gently challenged to check my victim mentality when it comes to my chronic illness. Initially I found the words tough to hear, but so often I do need another voice spoken into my life to clearly see the truth. That day I needed a leg-up to get on my Truth Box.<\/p>\n

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When communication directed at one of my many vulnerabilities hits the \u201couch spot,\u201d I have to examine why the sting. If the words are true, why do they sometimes hurt? Maybe it has to do with a skewed self-image or a false reality. If I maintained a realistic view of myself, knowing I had flaws, dropped stitches, and natural shortcomings, wouldn\u2019t it be easier to hear truth?<\/p>\n

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In order to avoid emotional pain, some might suggest adapting a thicker skin approach to life but perhaps more permeable skin would serve me better. The callousness of thick skin doesn\u2019t allow for the flow of truth and grace. And maybe that\u2019s the missing component, a dose of grace mixed with the truth. I like Webster\u2019s definition, \u201ca disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy or clemency.\u201d Truth always tastes better delivered with kindness.<\/p>\n

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The other day when I received truth from my PDP sisters, it came with plenty of grace.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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Receiving hard stuff takes practice. The steadier the diet of truth, the easier it is to digest. My self-awareness learning curve keeps climbing thanks to caring people in my life willing to say the tough stuff.<\/p>\n

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I like living in the emotional place where I can unabashedly articulate my strengths AND my weaknesses. If you have a criticism of me, it may bruise my ego a bit to hear it, but if I want to move forward in life then, \u201cbring it on.\u201d Just please don\u2019t forget the measure of grace.<\/p>\n

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Respectfully,<\/p>\n

Caroline<\/p>\n

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[Intramuralist Note:\u00a0 Caroline is wise woman.\u00a0 I\u2019ve said it before; I\u2019ll say it again; I appreciate both her fondness and knowledge of baseball, the bible, and good beer.]<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Note: \u00a0Today is day 5 of 10 in our annual Guest Blogger Series. \u00a0Please remember: \u00a0the Intramuralist may or may not agree with the opinion(s) expressed. \u00a0The goal is respectful articulation.]     I want the truth. But \u2026 do I \u2026 really? Sometimes I feel just like the recipient of the infamous line from … <\/p>\n

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